Uchiha Mikoto spoke softly about some household matters, nothing more than trivial matters within the clan and worries about Fugaku on the front line. Senju Chen listened quietly and echoed a few words from time to time.
Little Itachi seemed to be particularly curious about the vague thunderous aura on Senju Chen, and followed him step by step, stretching out his chubby little hands from time to time, trying to catch something.
"Chen-kun, I heard Fugaku say that you gave a lot of suggestions to the clan." Uchiha Mikoto looked at the young man playing with his son, his eyes full of gratitude. "Without you, we, Uchiha Clan, might still be walking down a dead end. Now people in the village look at us differently. Even when I go to buy vegetables, the aunt who sells vegetables will give me an extra green onion."
Her words are simple, but full of sincere joy.
"Aunt Mikoto, you are serious." Senju Chen smiled and waved his hand, "I just mentioned a few immature ideas. The reason we are in today's situation is because Clan Head Fugaku is courageous, and also because the Uchiha clan members are willing to change for the future of the village and family."
Senju Chen knows very well that he just lit the fuse, and it is Uchiha Clan himself who really makes the flame burn.
"No matter what, we will keep this kindness in our hearts." Uchiha Mikoto said solemnly. She looked at Senju Chen, then at her ignorant son, and secretly made a decision in her heart.
She hopes that her son will have a broad mind and profound wisdom like the young man in front of her in the future, instead of being bound by family prejudices.
On this day, Senju Chen came to Strategic Command located on the ground floor of the Hokage building to "check in" as usual.
This is the brain center of the Konoha war machine, and the atmosphere is always tense and solemn. Intelligence ninjas shuttle busily like worker bees.
Senju Chen found a corner and sat down, seemingly flipping through irrelevant battle damage reports, but in fact his mental power had already spread out like a spider web, capturing all the information around him.
Suddenly, a burst of rapid footsteps broke the oppressive tranquility of the headquarters.
A ninja from the communications team who was responsible for intelligence interpretation stumbled out of his cubicle. He was clutching a newly translated telegram in his hand. The expression on his face was a mixture of ecstasy and disbelief, and his lips were trembling.
"Win... win!"
His voice became sharp due to excitement, as if he was shouting with all his strength.
"We won!!"
This shout was like a huge stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly causing huge waves throughout the headquarters.
Everyone stopped what they were doing, and dozens of eyes flickered, all focusing on the communication ninja.
"What did you say?" Shikaku Nara was the first to react and grabbed the ninja's arm, his voice trembling.
"Iwagakure! It's Iwagakure!" The ninja was so excited that he couldn't speak coherently and raised the information in his hand high. "Iwagakure... formally submitted the surrender letter! The war... the war is over!"
"Boom--!"
The entire headquarters exploded.
The emotions that had been suppressed for several years completely exploded at this moment.
"Really? We won."
"Oh oh oh oh oh--!"
"We win! We win!"
"Great! It's finally over!"
People hugged each other and cried with joy. Some people threw all the documents on the table into the air, letting the papers symbolizing suffering and sacrifice fall like snowflakes. Some people slumped in their chairs, covering their faces with their hands, shaking their shoulders violently, and letting out suppressed sobs.
This war that lasted for nearly four years has devoured too many lives and caused too much pain. Now, it has finally come to an end.
Senju Chen sat quietly in the corner, looking at the boiling ocean in front of him, with an expression of joy on his face.
Iwagakure's surrender was like a stimulant, sending everyone into a carnival.
"Quick! Immediately! Report the information to Lord Hokage!" Although Shikaku Nara was also full of excitement, he still maintained his last rationality.
Almost at the same time, the entire Konoha woke up because of this news.
At first, there were just a few sporadic cheers, and then, like a prairie fire, it quickly spread to every corner of the village.
"Iwagakure surrenders!"
"We won!!!"
On the street, the woman who was sweeping stopped the broom in her hand and listened blankly to the newsboy's call. Then her eyes turned red and tears came out of her eyes.
In the ramen restaurant, when the ninja who was eating noodles heard the news, he clapped his chopsticks excitedly and shouted "Boss, I'm treating you today!", which attracted cheers from the whole room.
Villagers who were purchasing supplies poured into the streets one after another. They grabbed everyone they knew or didn't know to share this great joy.
The entire Konoha was immersed in an atmosphere that was close to a carnival. Every household hung up colorful ribbons and lanterns spontaneously, as if to sweep away the gloom of the past few years. On the streets, people's faces were filled with excitement and pride from the bottom of their hearts, which was the glory that belonged to the victors.
Just two days later, another piece of information came from Land of Wind.
Sunagakure, also announced its surrender.
If Iwagakure's surrender was a decisive victory, then Sunagakure's surrender sounded the final bell for this protracted war.
At this point, Third Shinobi World War, with the overall victory of Konoha, officially comes to an end.
What follows is a feast for the victor - post-war negotiations.
As the largest victorious country, Land of Fire will receive massive compensation from Land of Earth and Land of Wind. Money, minerals, specialties, mission shares, and even some family secrets Ninjutsu... These will become bargaining chips on the negotiation table, injecting strong impetus into Konoha's post-war reconstruction.
As for Land of Lightning, Kumogakure are more like high-priced mercenaries in this war. Senju Chen has already used Four-Tails to pay their "appearance fees". How they compete with Iwagakure in the future is their own business.
The situation of Land of Water and Kirigakure is the worst. As allies of Iwagakure, not only did they not get much benefit this time, but Third Mizukage died in the battle, and all the proud Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and seven Ninja Blade that had been passed down for many years were missing. It can be said that they lost both their wives and their troops.
Senju Chen stood by the window of the headquarters, looking at the happy faces outside.
The war was won, but this did not mean the arrival of peace.
On the contrary, when external threats disappear, internal conflicts tend to breed and ferment at a faster rate.
Uchiha's problems, Danzo's ambitions, and... are about to escape from the quagmire of war, and can focus all their attention on the domestic Amegakure leader--Hanzo of the Salamander.
A bigger chess game is slowly unfolding.
"The next step will be the heroes' return home and... the rewards for their merits."